Sunday, November 29, 2015

Busy as a Bee

Did you know that Deborah means BEE in Hebrew? 

Via
And that I'm allergic to bees? Well, wasps and yellow jackets anyway...we haven't tested it on bees yet, thankfully!

And I have a postcard on my fridge that is covered in bees?

And my older daughter loves the symbol of the bee?

And both of my daughters love honey but I can't stomach it at all? The smell makes my stomach turn instantly. 

Are you wondering where I'm going with all this?

I'm just trying to tell you that I've been as busy as a bee all weekend.....which is really nothing unusual for me! There are always a million things to do around here!

But I've missed being here and sharing with all my blogland friends! So I wanted to come by and give you a littler recap of what's been going on in my busy bee life.

This was a rare 4 day weekend for me, which I am so very grateful for. Thanksgiving was absolutely fabulous - my sister and brother in law are the best hosts and we always have such a fun time when all 7 of the cousins get together! Such a wacky bunch they are, but my sisters and I get such a kick out of watching them all interact together. The youngest cousin is 8 and the oldest 25 (but acts like 8!) So you can just imagine the goofiness when they are all together!

Friday was HOT here on the mountain top - it was weird weather, topping out about 60 or so, probably more in the sun. 

Via
I tell you, it was tough to get motivated to start decorating for Christmas!! But we put on some nice Christmas music on Pandora and browsed around for some inspirational images online and got started. 

Via
I would love to share some photos with you but apparently my camera is away on vacation right now. Ahem. No comment. 

I'll give you just a tiny sneak peek:


Remember when I bought this? It has the prime location on the tree this year, front and center!

So, the inside of the house is nearly done....I have a bunch of boxes of Christmas decor I haven't used in years that I need to look through and figure out what to keep, what to toss. That will get started today. 

And the outside? I don't really know. I don't like ladders....not even stepstools. I have zero sense of balance. 

I remember painting the hallway in my apartment in the city a number of years back and was on the 3rd step of the stepstool and fell completely backwards with my head landing in the paint roller tray....which of course was full of paint. 

Yup. That's me. The original spazzmatazz. 

So I tend to stay on the ground whenever possible. 

Whatever I do to decorate outside will be easy peasy. And idiot proof. 

Aside from decorating the inside on Friday (which WIPED ME OUT!) it's been non stop around here. Saturday was the last farmer's market/holiday market of the year - see you in May! It was lovely - live music, beer tastings from a brand new local brewery, tons of baked goods, the last produce of the season (mushrooms, garlic, onions, potatoes) and lots of preserved goods. Also local beef, pork, and chicken from two different farms - all organic, grass fed. Wreaths, paintings and photographs from local artists, pottery, hand made soaps and jewelry - you name it! Great day! 

Some of those potatoes, mushrooms, garlic, onions and beef went into a beef stew last night - mmmmmmm - leftovers went home with my sweetie for his lunch today as well as another meal for two that I popped into the freezer. That will be a treat on a snowy mountain evening!

I used this recipe from Once Upon A Chef as a base...only with half as much wine, no water, twice as much broth. And some crushed tomatoes instead of tomato paste....about a cup....because they were already open. It was GOOD!!!!

Via
I also made turkey stock from the Thanksgiving turkey carcass that my sister sent home with me. Same general idea as the chicken broth - just obviously replacing the chicken carcass with the turkey. I only used about half the carcass - the other half is in the freezer for another batch. I started it yesterday around 4 pm and it needs to go at least 24 hours - I'll strain it sometime either this evening or tomorrow morning. 

And the final ripened batch of the giant tomato harvest is on the stove simmering right now, in my easy peasy tomato onion butter sauce. 

I have to admit - I'm kind of glad to be tackling the last of the tomatoes....after all we've been using fresh tomatoes in a million meals since about July! On the other hand, I'm kind of sad, too - supermarket tomatoes just don't compare. Not even close. 

But it's time at this point to have a little break from dealing with the garden harvest.....it was a long, busy season. 

And a long, busy weekend. 

Mountain Mama needs a nap. 

















20 comments:

  1. You need a nap! I'm worn out just reading this post...whew! I love that you buy organic grass-fed products. Smart cookie! We have several organic grocery stores here in Indianapolis so we have good choices for shopping. Your home is fabulous...I've been going through all your posts as I am a new subscriber.

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    1. I do try to buy organic for many items, Donna - not everything, I'm certainly not a purist, but for dairy and meat and eggs - yes. And some produce but not all. Of course we grow a lot (organically of course) during the season also so that helps. Thanks for visiting!!

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  2. Life sounds good, Debbie! And I'm with you...climbing up on a stepladder isn't my best idea...

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  3. Busy, busy...it was a busy weekend, here, too. I am decorating slowly and throwing out more than I am putting out, but that's ok! Was so fun to see you over at Kris' blog...she is the sweetest!

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    1. She sure is!! I had fun being featured over at Kris's blog - I have met a bunch of new people!! I was going through old boxes of decor yesterday...it's hard to throw it away when I always think my girls may need some of this stuff when they get their own homes!! But it's time to weed out some of it for sure.

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  4. Yes, I did know Deborah meant bee in Hebrew but only read that quite recently. I've never added butter to the sauce until after it's been canned and opened for use. That looks really interesting. Your head in a bunch of paint...UGH. I cannot imagine and am thankful I cannot! lol
    Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

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    1. My hair was green for about a month!!!! Have a wonderful holiday season - thanks for visiting!!

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  5. I saw your feature at Kris'. Don't you just love her. ? Sounds good if you have lots of decorating done already. I have some done and much more to go. LOL. My daughter had her entire house decorated yesterday. I went to her house today for Sunday brunch. I am a slow decorator...need breaks with cups of coffee. LOL> Blessings to you and yours, xoxo,Susie

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    1. Hi Susie -

      I have most of the decorating done at this point, just finishing up a few things. it was a busy, busy weekend!! I'm so glad you came to visit!! xo

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  6. Wow! Your Christmas decorating is more advanced than mine! Your nap is well deserved.

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    1. We got in the habit of doing it the Friday right after Thanksgiving when my older daughter would be home from college - she was never back again until Christmas break. The habit and the tradition just stuck with us and 8 years later it's just the way it is!!

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  7. Wow! I would say you do need a nap! lol I worked outside the last two days in 30 degree weather and have my outside almost all done. That meant clearing away fall decorations before starting on Christmas ones..but it looks nice now.
    I laughed right out loud about the head in the paint-that is something I would do---just call me Grace...however, I would probably trip into it-heights do not bother me at all-----nor do bees. lol BUT I am NOT a big honey fan either- had plenty of that as sweetener growing up on a farm with bee hives.
    Hope you have a great week and -get some rest- will ya! xo Diana

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    1. Thanks, Diana!! I hope you will post pix of your outside decor - I'd love to see it!! I'm sort of confused on what to do at my new home....I guess I'll figure it out as I am here longer. So far it's just wreaths on the doors.....kind of boring, huh?

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    1. I got a bubble bath with candles, music, and a cocktail, Deb - even better than a nap!! I was like a new woman after that treat!!

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  9. Love that ornament, and your stew looks delicious!

    Happy Holidays ~ FlowerLady

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    1. It truly was delicious, Lorraine!! Thank you for coming by for a visit!!

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  10. Looks like your into the busy season! I love it, it's at its best. What would we do without beeing busy. lol Have a wonderful week. Jo

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    1. Ha ha - you're so right, Jo - nothing like BEEing busy!!! Keeps us young, right? Thanks for visiting!!

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